MORE THAN a fifth of primary schoolchildren who took part in a survey in Northern Ireland reported being physically bullied.
The Kids Life and Times Survey produced by Queen’s University and the University of Ulster spoke to more than 3,000 primary seven pupils and also found 36 per cent had been bullied in other ways, including name-calling.
The survey provided a snapshot of other aspects of their lives, with 74 per cent confirming they had a TV in their bedroom, though most children reported being fed up with programmes about swine flu and the recession.
A total of 3,657 children in primary seven (aged 11 and 12) from 268 primary schools across Northern Ireland took part in the 2009 survey.
Key findings included:
q A total of 22 per cent said they had been physically bullied at school either a lot or a little in the two months previous to the survey being carried out, and 36 per cent had been bullied in other ways, including name-calling, being left out of games, or having nasty stories spread about them on purpose.
p Girls are happier than boys at school, with 84 per cent of girls and 73 per cent of boys saying they were “mostly happy” at school.
p Most children said they would turn to parents, family or friends if something went wrong in their lives. However, 11 per cent of boys and 8 per cent of girls didn’t know who they would turn to, while 5 per cent of boys and 3 per cent of girls said they would turn to no one.
The survey was funded by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. – (PA)